After beating Man United to reach the semi-finals of the League Cup, Tottenham Hotspur were quickly brought back to the harsh reality. The 3-6 defeat to Liverpool not only left pain but also pushed Tottenham down to 11th place in the Premier League table and 8 points behind the Top 4.
Ange Postecoglou's side are facing tough challenges as they have to compete continuously on many fronts. Long-term injuries to key players such as Micky van de Ven, Cristian Romero and Guglielmo Vicario have left their squad vulnerable. Notably, the recent defeat was also the third consecutive home match in which Spurs have conceded at least three goals.
The game against Liverpool showed a serious imbalance in Tottenham’s style of play. When they tried to push forward in search of an equaliser, they were repeatedly met with sharp counter-attacks by Liverpool. Both goals from Dejan Kulusevski and Dominic Solanke came from individual efforts, but this risky approach allowed the opponents to exploit major gaps in the “Rooster” defense.
Tottenham have been entertaining this season, beating the likes of Man City and Man United, and picking up impressive wins over Aston Villa and West Ham. However, defeats to underdogs like Ipswich Town and Crystal Palace, coupled with chaotic defeats to Chelsea and Liverpool, have shown Spurs’ inconsistency.
"Aren't you happy? We go out to bring joy to everyone. I love football, I love teams that are willing to give their all. But if we continue to make things difficult for ourselves like this, success will be very difficult to come" - Ange Postecoglou shared after the victory over Man United in the League Cup.
The Australian's style of play prioritises entertainment and commitment, but while it may please neutral viewers, it's unlikely Tottenham fans will feel the same way.
Since the start of December, Tottenham have conceded the most goals in the Premier League with 12. They also top the list of negative indicators such as opponents' shots (85), shots on target faced (37) and chances created (25).
After the last 5 matches, “The Rooster” has only won 1 victory and that was against Southampton – the team that is at the bottom of the table and fired the coach right after the match. With these results, the opportunity to improve on last season’s 5th place is gradually out of reach for Tottenham.
Ange Postecoglou has repeatedly highlighted the difficulties Tottenham are facing. A lack of players in the squad has forced him to use young and inexperienced players such as Archie Gray and Djed Spence in defence. Both had only made five Premier League starts between them before facing Liverpool's superior attack.
Radu Dragusin, a £25m centre-back who was expected to be a long-term backup, has also made mistakes. Against Liverpool, the Romanian lost possession in the build-up to Dominik Szoboszlai’s goal. Such individual errors highlight Tottenham’s poor defensive organisation.
"I know many people think I should change my approach but I believe in the path I have chosen. We will continue to build this team in the direction we want, even though we know we will have to face many difficulties" - Ange Postecoglou said after the match against Liverpool.
Despite their inconsistent form, Tottenham still received support from their fans. In the second half of the match against Liverpool, the fans still cheered enthusiastically and sang the name of captain Ange Postecoglou when the home team scored 2 goals in just 10 minutes.
The return of players such as Ben Davies and Mikey Moore in the coming period will give the 59-year-old more options in his squad. However, with Van de Ven, Romero and Richarlison needing more time to recover, Tottenham may have to continue to rely on their current squad to face Nottingham Forest, Wolverhampton and Newcastle.
